Improving Project Visibility and Cost Control with IFS PBM

Industry: Engineering & Construction, Infrastructure

Introduction: Scaling Projects Without Losing Control

For over two decades, this multinational engineering firm had delivered high-impact infrastructure—from hydropower plants and expressways to urban transport systems and smart city networks. With operations across Southeast Asia and the Middle East, the company’s success was built on technical excellence, cross-functional collaboration, and timely execution.

But as project complexity and regional operations grew, so did the blind spots. Critical project decisions—whether in finance, procurement, or execution—were often based on outdated or incomplete information. Spreadsheets became the glue holding together disconnected systems. Forecasting was more guesswork than science. And risk? Often detected only after it turned into loss.

When a flagship $250M project missed budget by 15% due to late procurement coordination and scope creep, leadership made a bold decision: to unify their entire project and business landscape under one platform - IFS PBM.

The Business Problem: Fragmented Tools, Disconnected Data, Costly Delays

The core challenge wasn’t project execution—it was project intelligence.

Each department had its own system

Finance used a legacy ERP with limited project-level insights
Project managers tracked deliverables and dependencies in Excel
Procurement and supply chain relied on manual status updates
HR managed workforce availability on standalone planning sheets

This fragmented environment led to

No real-time visibility across projects
Delayed recognition of scope and cost variances
Inconsistent planning across teams
Reactive decision-making, not proactive control

Executives described the situation as “running a marathon with a blindfold.” They were investing heavily in capital projects, yet couldn’t answer basic questions like

Are we on track, on budget, and on scope?
Where are the early warning signs of risk?
What’s the forecasted cash flow 90 days from now?

These gaps weren’t just operational—they were strategic. Project performance directly impacted the firm’s margins, client confidence, and ability to bid competitively on future work.

It was time for transformation.

Our Solution: IFS PBM—One Platform for Projects and Business

To solve the root of the problem, the company needed more than a project tool. It needed a unified platform that treated projects not as isolated initiatives, but as the core of the business.

Enter IFS Project and Business Management (PBM)—implemented with expert IFS consulting services as a fully integrated suite that combines project planning, cost control, procurement, financials, HR, and analytics into one coherent system.

Core Solution Highlights:

End-to-End Project Lifecycle Management

From opportunity through delivery, every stage of the project is managed within IFS.

Real-Time Cost & Progress Tracking

Budgets, actuals, commitments, and forecasts updated in real-time—no more waiting for month-end.

Integrated Resource & Procurement Planning

Workforce and materials are aligned with project schedules, not managed in silos.

Scenario-Based Forecasting

Leaders can model “what-if” scenarios for delays, scope changes, or budget shifts.

Role-Based Dashboards

Project managers, CFOs, and procurement heads see only what’s relevant to them—with data that always tells the same story.

Tntra’s IFS consulting team led the implementation using agile sprints—starting with the most complex ongoing project, then rolling out to other regions. Within six months, three major business units were running fully on IFS PBM.

What made this rollout different?

The focus wasn’t just tech—it was process transformation. Each function—project delivery, finance, procurement, HR—was trained to work from the same source of truth, with workflows built around accountability and visibility.

Outcomes: Faster Decisions, Tighter Control, Better Margins

Within the first year of using IFS PBM, the company saw a dramatic shift—not just in how they managed projects, but in how they ran the business.

Key Business Outcomes:

Project Visibility, Finally Unified

Before IFS, the project status depended on who you asked. Now, a single dashboard shows cost to complete, delivery progress, and risk exposure in real-time.

Cost Control Embedded in Execution

Budgets are no longer separate from project delivery. As soon as actuals deviate from plan, automated variance alerts go out—enabling teams to act before minor slippage becomes a major overrun.

20% improvement in forecast accuracy
35% faster response to cost deviations

Procurement & Planning Now Proactive

Instead of waiting for last-minute materials or missing workforce windows, planners now align procurement and staffing with project timelines dynamically.

Fewer emergency purchases
40% improvement in resource utilization

Cash Flow Forecasting That Inspires Confidence

With all project data integrated into financial systems, CFOs and finance teams can now accurately forecast cash requirements, revenue recognition, and payment schedules—down to individual projects.

30% improvement in cash flow predictability
Shortened billing cycles across large contracts

Stronger Bids, Smarter Growth

With better data on project performance, the business now submits more competitive, confident bids—factoring in risk, resource loads, and profitability from day one.

IFS PBM didn’t just improve how they manage projects. It changed how they grow.